High school junior battles back from rodeo injury

Friday, April 10, 1998 | 12:51 p.m.

The young cowboy, a junior at Spring Creek High School, was injured Sunday when he was thrown from a saddle bronc at the Douglas High School Rodeo Competition at Fuji Park in Carson City.

"He's strong and he's fighting," Bell said. "He's aggravated."

Bell, a heavy equipment operator and a former professional rodeo cowboy himself, said his son underwent surgery Thursday afternoon to repair an injury to the vertebra which is located where the neck meets the shoulders. He said surgeons removed bone fragments from the spinal canal, fused the break and covered it with a titanium plate.

"He's stabilized and they have a good realignment of the spine," Bell said.

Bell said his son is not totally paralyzed.

"He's been able to shrug his shoulders from day one," Bell said. "The best thing I can say is he has some movement in his upper body and we don't know the extent of the paralysis. He's out of traction and he has a neck brace on."

He said his son has some fluid in his lungs and doctors are keeping a close watch on him because of the risk of pneumonia.

"He's strong and he has a good attitude," Bell said. "He's positive and he appreciates all the love and prayers of his friends. He's going to be here for quite some time. I want the whole community to know he and his parents have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support. I'm sorry we had to find out this way, but there are more wonderful people in Elko and Nevada than we ever realized, and we appreciate their love, support and prayers."

"He's got a lot of fight in him," said Bell's mother, Carmen. "He's holding his own and there are no words to express my gratitude for all the support from Elko. We're praying a lot."

Andy started riding steers when he was 9 years old and has competed in high school rodeo competitions for two years.

"He's the kind of kid everyone wishes they could have," John said. "He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink and he's always been athletic. He's played football and wrestled. He's always been a big, stout kid."

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A trust fund has been established in Andy Bell's name at U.S. Bank to help with medical expenses. The account number is 9146027843 at U.S. Bank, 2203 Oddie Blvd., Sparks, Nev. 89431.